UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Friday, 06 July 2007

National Media Reports

Fretilin-PD negotiating a coalition
The counting of votes for the parliamentary election ended on Thursday (5/7); however there is no party with a majority of votes.

Even if ruling party Fretilin received the most votes, this historical party has not yet managed to form a coalition which could then form a government.

Their result of 29% forces them to negotiate with opposition parties such as the Democratic Party (PD). Fretilin’s leaders, namely Arsenio Bano, Aniceto Guterres, Elizario Ferreira and Filomeno Aleixo met PD’s leaders, Mariano Sabino, Jose Nominando Buras and Marcelino Magno, on Thursday (5/7) at Hotel Timor to negotiate a possible coalition. (TP)

Child dies in IDP camp
Due to the crisis last year, Tasya da Costa, an 8 month-baby, moved with her Mother and Father to the IDP camp in Becora Church, Dili. She passed away on Wednesday (4/7) at 4:30hrs.

Her Mum, Afina, reportedly said that Tasya got a cough for two days due to the storms and heavy rains of the last few days. (TP)

CNRT’s charisma loses out to Fretilin’s history
The counting of the votes for the parliamentary election concluded on Thursday (5/7). The result shows that CNRT under Xanana Gusmão could not beat the historic party of Fretilin led by Mr. Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo.

Before the election, national and international analysts said that CNRT will win thanks to Mr. Xanana’s charisma.

In response to this analysis, the Secretary General of the ruling party Fretilin reportedly said that it is a major message for all Timorese people and people worldwide: namely that the tiny nation does not belong to one person but to all the people of Timor-Leste.(TP)

Alfredo requests more clarity on the dialogue with the state
Benevides Correia, the lawyer of former military police commander, Alfredo Reinado, on Thursday (4/7) in Dili said that that Alfredo needs to know the details of the proposed dialogue with the state, such as talking points and objectives of the dialogue, and how long it will be conducted.

Mr. Benevides also said Alfredo will be contacted when his proposed clarifications are accepted by the state. (TP)



PDHJ recommends 12 cases to police
The Human Rights and Justice Provedor (PDHJ) will present its reports and recommendations related to allegations of power abuses by the police to the general commander of PNTL and UNPol.

“Tomorrow is the important day for PDHJ to recommend 12 cases to the police,” said acting coordinator of PDHJ, Amandio de Sá Benevides on Thursday (4/7) through a press release.

He also explained that the presented recommendations are based on law No. 7/2004 article 3, 5, 27 and 28 about the status of Human Rights and Justice Provedor (PDHJ). He added that the allegations have been made by members of the community from March 2006 – March 2007. (TP)

PD wants Xanana and Alkatiri to embrace one another other
The vice president of Democratic Party (PD), Jose Nominando Buras said on Thursday (4/7) in national parliament, that it is time for former President of Republic, Xanana Gusmão, and former east Timor Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, to put their differences behind them.

He said that Xanana and Alkatiri are the representatives of both the victorious party CNRT and the historical party Fretilin, so they should take the lead in encouraging all political parties to form a National Unity Government for all Timorese. (STL and DN)

Lu-Olo: Fretilin can form government
The President of ruling party Fretilin, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo affirmed that Fretilin can form a solid coalition government.

“The way is open for all parties to set a coalition and form the new government, we have not known yet which party we should have a coalition with,” said Mr. Lu-Olo on Thursday (5/7) after meeting with President of Republic, Jose Ramos Horta in Palasiu das Cinzas Caicoli in Dili. (STL)

Two chairs left in the parliament
Based on the preliminary result of parliamentary election, there are five parties and two coalitions who get seats in parliament, namely Fretilin (20 seats), CNRT (17 seats), coalition ASDT/PSD (11 seats), PD (8 seats), PUN (3 seats), Democratic Alliance KOTA/PPT (2 seats) and UNDERTIM (2 seats). That covers 63 of the 65 seats, so there still two seats left. Which party will get them? (STL)

The law of clemency is unconditional
After visiting to Timor Telecom Company on Thursday (5/7), the President of Republic, Jose Ramos Horta said that the clemency law sent by the national parliament confuses him, so he has sent a letter to the court of appeal. The court can then give him an idea of its constitutionality.

“I have sent the letter to the court of appeal, and I will wait for the response from the court of appeal. If the court of appeal says that clemency law is unconstitutional, I will not promulgate or veto such law. I will listen to civil society and seek another clemency law which can be adopted.

Mr. Horta also revealed that the clemency law passed by national parliament is not constitutionally sound, since the law only applies to authors of the crisis raised last year, excluding the incidents of 1974, 1975 and 1999.

The vice-President of National Parliament, Jacob Fernandes, disagreed, saying that the clemency law approved by national parliament is not unconstitutional, and that is why it was sent to the President for promulgation.

According to Mr. Jacob, clemency laws are either constitutional or unconstitutional, and that decision rests with the court of appeal. (STL and DN)